Bucket structure for excavators and loaders



Feb. 22, 1949. w. e. VAN VOORHIS BUCKET STRUCTURE FOR EXCAVATORS AND LOADERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1946 INVENTOR. William G.VanVoorh|s A TTOR/VEYS Feb. 22, 1949. w. G. VAN VOORHIS BUCKET STRUCTURE FOR EXCAVATORS AND LOADERSv 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1946 INVENTOR. W1l||am G.Von Voorhvs ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE William G. Van Voorhis, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Jaegelf Machine ..Company, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 5, 1946, Serial No. 674.48 1

8 Claims. 1

My invention relates to a bucket structure for an excavator and loader.

This invention relates, more particularly, to that type of bucket structure which embodies a bucket pivoted to the outer end of a boom for movement about a horizontal axis between normal workin position and dumpin position. A releasable latch is associated with the bucket for maintaining it in its normal working position. I have found it desirable to provide means-in association with the'bucket whereby it may be adju'sted so that in its working position its angular relationship relative to the boom can be varied. This adjustment is very useful because it is desirable to have the bucket tilted forwardly when excavating, so that the forward edge of the bucket will dig into the surface morerreadily, andto have the bucket substantially horizontal when merely scooping up loose material, so that it will not readily dig into the surface upon which the loose material is disposed.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, efiective and. rugged structure for pivotally supporting the bucket for swinging movement about a horizontal axis on the end of a boom; which can be easily and quickly adjusted to change the working angle of the bucket relative to the boom. H i V The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings where- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a bucket structure and associated boom embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail, in perspective, of a portion of the bucket and associated adjustable pivot structure.

Before explaining in detail the present inven tion, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated mule accompanying drawings, since the inven tion is" capable'of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. It is to be understood also that the phraseology or terminology employed herein; is for the purpose of des'criptionandnot'of limitation. a

In Figure 1 I have illustrated a boom 1 which is of usual structure. Attached to the end. of this boom is a' bucket 2 which, in itsbasi'c structure, is of usual design. The bucket 2 is hinged- 1y attached to the boom I by my novel adjustable pivot structure 3 for movement about a horizontal'axis. Latches 4 of usual structure are provided for maintaining the bucket in working position and are releasable to permit the bucket to swing downwardly into discharge position.

The end of the boom l is provided with a pair of forwardly projecting plates 5 which are spaced laterally from each'other. These plates are provided with downwardly extending ears 6 which are disposed between a pair of vertically disposed laterally spaced ribs 1 (Figures 2 to 4) which are formed on the rear walls of the bucket 2; For pivotally connecting the plates 5 to the ribs 7, I provide "my novel piv'ot structure 3.

The pivot structure 3 consists of a transversely extending pivot or hinge shaft 8. Each end of the shaft is provided with a pair, of eccentrics keyed thereon by means of keys 9a and rotat-' ably disposed in circular openings ii! formed in theribs' 7. All of the eccentrics are designated by the numeral 9 with the exception of the outer one at the extreme right of Figure 2 which is slightly different from the others and is numbered 9b. The eccentrics are rotatable with the shaft, but their axes are eccentric to the shaft axis. Surrounding the shaft, between each pair of eccentrics is a bearing [I which is an integral part of ear 6V of plate 5. Bearings ll carry bushings I2. Mounted on the shaft 8 on opposite sides ofeach pair of eccentrics are the set collars l3 which closely surround the shaft and which are maintained in fixed axial positions by means of set screws M. Y p

The end of the shaft adjacent eccentric 9b is provided with an angular crank-receiving or wrench-receiving portion I5 by means of which it maybe rotated. A radially extending lever arm i6 is formed as an integral part of eccentric 91). A recess l! is formed in the outer side of eccentric 9b for the adjacent collar l3. When the shaft is rotated in bearings I l, the lever arm 16 will swing therewithabout the axis of the shaft. A lockingpin l 8 isadapted to be passed through an opening in the outer end of arm I6. This pin may be disposed in any of a series of. openings l9 disposed at spaced intervals along an arc in a segment 20 which is formed as apart of the adjacent rib 'l. The pin l8 maybe held in position by means of a cotter-key 2| which passes through a boss 22; formed on the outer surface of lever arm I6, and through the pin.

Normally the shaft 8 will be locked in a preselectedpositionby thelever arm 16 and the cooperating locking pin It); When the latches 4 are released, the bucket 2 will swing about the substantially horizontal depending upon the position of the shaft 8 and the eccentrics carried thereby. To vary this working angle of the bucket, it is merely necessary toremove the locking pin I8 and then rotate the shaft 8. Lockin pin i8 is then positioned in another of the open ings [9.

During the tilting adjustment of the bucket by varying the rotative positions of the eccentrics 9 and 9b, the latches d may move vertically slightly to permit this adjustment.

It will be apparent from the above descrip tion that I have provided an adjustable pivot structure for varying the pitch of a bucket pivoted to a boom for swinging movement about a hori-' zontal axis. The structure is such that the working angle of the bucket relative to the boom can be varied easily and quickly to facilitate digging or to facilitate scooping of loose material without digging into the surface upon which it is disposed. The pivot structure is simple and rugged.

Various other advantages will be apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a boom, a bucket pivoted to the boom for relative movement about a horizontal axis between working position and dumping position, a releasable latch for holding the bucket in working position at a suitable angle relative to the boom, a horizontally disposed pivot pin or shaft for pivotally connecting the bucket to the boom and rotatably carried by the boom, and eccentrics keyed on said pin and rotatably disposed in bearings carried by the bucket whereby the working angle of the bucket relative to the boom can be varied by rotating said pin.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for locking the eccentrics in various rotative positions.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a lever arm secured to the shaft for rotation therewith, a segment attached to the bucket and over which the lever arm extends, said segment having a series of spaced openings and said lever arm having an opening adapted to be brought into alignment with any of said series of openings, and a locking pin for insertion into said aligning openings.

4. In combination, a boom having a plurality of forwardly projecting vertically disposed and laterally spaced plates, a bucket having at its'rear side a plurality of pairs of vertically disposed and laterally spaced ribs, each plate extending between a pair of the ribs, means for pivotally connecting the plates and the ribs together, said means comprising a pivot pin which extends horizontally through aligning openings in the plates and ribs, latch members pivoted to the boom for movement in a vertical plane and normally engaging transverse pins disposed between the ribs and located above the pivot pin, said latch members normally holding the bucket in Working position at a suitable angle relative to the boom, ec-" centrics keyed on said pivot pin and rotatably disposed in bearings which are located in the openings insaidribs, means for rotating said pivot pin to thereby rotate the eccentrics and change the working angle of the bucket relative to the CII boom, and means for locking the pivot pin in various rotative positions, said means comprising an arm carried by one of the eccentrics and extending over a segment on an adjacent rib having a plurality of spaced locking openings for receiving a locking pin extended through an opening in the arm.

5. In combination, a boom having a plurality of forwardly projecting vertically disposed and laterally spaced plates, a bucket having at its rear side a plurality of pairs of vertically disposed and laterally spaced ribs, each plate extending between a pair of the ribs, means for pivotally connecting the plates and the ribs together, said means comprising a pivot pin which extends horizontally through aligning openings in the plates and ribs, latch members pivoted to the boom for movement in a vertical plane and normally engaging transverse pins disposed between the ribs and located above the pivot pin, said latch members normally holding the bucket in working position at a suitable angle relative to the boom, eccentrics keyed on said pivot pin and rotatably disposed in bearings which are located in the openings in said ribs, means for rotating said pivot pin to thereby rotate the eccentrics and change the working angle of the bucket relative to the boom, and means for locking the pivot pin in various rotative positions.

6. In combination, a support having a plurality of vertically disposed and laterally spaced plates, a bucket having at its rear side a plurality of vertically disposed and laterally spaced ribs associated with said plates, means for pivotally connecting the plates and the ribs together, said means comprising a pivot pin which extends horizontally through aligning opennigs in the plates and ribs, releasable latch structure for normally holding the bucket in working position at a suitable angle relative to the support, eccentrics keyed on said pivot pin and rotatably disposed in bearings which are located in the openings in said ribs, means. for rotating said pivot pin to thereby rotate the eccentrics and change the workin angle of the bucket relative to the support, and

means for. locking the pivot pin in various rotae tive positions.

7. In combination, a support having aplurality' of vertically disposed and laterally spaced plates,

a bucket having at its rear side a plurality of v vertically disposed and laterally spaced ribs associated with said plates, means for pivotally connecting the plates and the ribs together, said means comprising a pivot pin which extends horizontally through aligning openings in the plates and ribs, releasable latch structure for normally holding the bucket in working position at a suitable angle relative to the support, eccentrics keyed on said pivotv pin and rotatably disposed in bearings which are located in the openings in said ribs, means for rotating said pivot pin to thereby rotate. the eccentrics and change the working angle of the bucket relative to the support.

8. In combination, a support member, a bucket member pivoted to the'support member for relative movement about a horizontal axis between working position and dumping position, releasable latch structure for holding the bucket member normally in working position at a suitable angle relative to the support member, a horizontally disposed pivot pin for pivotally connecting the bucket member to the support member and being rotatably carried in bearings in one of said members, and eccentrics keyed on said pin and rotatably disposed in bearings carried by the other of said members whereby the working angle of the bucket member relative to the support member can be varied, by rotating said pin.

WILLIAM G. VAN VOORHIS.

REFERENCES CITED Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Austin May 23, 1939 Werthman et a1. Nov. 3, 1942 Dooley et a1. May 25, 1943 Denning Jan. 22, 1946 Wachter Jan. 22, 1946 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,462,790. February 22, 1949.

WILLIAM G. VAN VOORHIS It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 3, lines 37 and 38, claim 1, strike out the words or shaft; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of June, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

